Officials are now saying there’s no such thing as a wildfire season, but rather a year-round concern in New Mexico. And now there’s a new resource for fighting those fires.

There were three just last week -- one in La Joya, another south of Pojoaque and another on Isleta Pueblo.

Advertisement

As fighting those fires requires many agencies on deck and even more helping hands, inmates have begun helping out.

Officials say they receive all basic fire qualifications that any wildland firefighter would receive. The Forestry Department says they pay and outfit minimum risk inmates to help them clear brush, mop up afterward and more.

Just because people have done something wrong in their life doesn’t mean they can’t contribute, officials added. Those inmates then have certificates after they’re released and are transferrable to any agency.